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Debating whether or not to keep NBATV

I've had NBATV for years through different providers, but with my current provider (Cinergy Metronet), it's part of their second tier of channels beyond the standard package. That would be fine, except I've realized that I'm not watching a single other channel in that tier, basically ever, which means I'm basically paying $18 a month just to have NBATV around.

I'm starting to think I should just cut bait because while I like it, I don't watch it a ton. It's just nice knowing its there for whenever I feel like flipping to it for a few minutes to see what's up around the league if it's their nightly show, something big is happening or an event is coming up that they'll have extra coverage on (summer league, all-star weekend, training camps), and then every so often there's a documentary I'm interested in (like the one about the Dream Team this week), but again that's hardly every week.

I guess what I'm saying is I use it enough to want to keep it in general, yet because of the channel structure of my provider, I'm left to decide if this channel is worth $18 a month on its own, since I'm essentially getting nothing else from that tier that I care about.

Re: Debating whether or not to keep NBATV

How often do they allow you to change packages, and is there a "service fee" for doing that?

I've got to say that NBATV is part of my Dish Network package, but if they took it away I wouldn't bat an eye. I would just keep getting my info where I am now - ESPN Radio, Yahoo sports radio, other radio stations, ESPN TV, etc. Oh, and of course Pacers Digest. The internet is chock full of sports news, as well. Nope, wouldn't miss it.

Re: Debating whether or not to keep NBATV

How often do they allow you to change packages, and is there a "service fee" for doing that?

I've got to say that NBATV is part of my Dish Network package, but if they took it away I wouldn't bat an eye. I would just keep getting my info where I am now - ESPN Radio, Yahoo sports radio, other radio stations, ESPN TV, etc. Oh, and of course Pacers Digest. The internet is chock full of sports news, as well. Nope, wouldn't miss it.

I'll have to ask, but my hunch is that there is not a fee for dropping a package. It's not really switching; you pay for the standard tier, then you pay an additional fee for another. I'm just looking at dropping one while keeping the standard (base) tier.

Yeah, I definitely don't need it to get my news; Twitter and PD handle that excellently. I just sometimes like to watch coverage of the NBA (games, events, stories), and they do a decent job of that.

I believe I made the mistake of trying to DVR one of our Orlando series games on NBATV that was also covered by FSI (thought I'd get a different flavor and listen to their people cover the game for something different), and when I got home to re-watch the game (I attended live), it was blacked out. So FSI gets the nod when this happens.

Re: Debating whether or not to keep NBATV

I'm surprised nobody has mentioned the classic games, I love that during the off-season.

Summer League after the draft is always fun.

Yeah, classic games can be fun, though I normally don't have the time/interest/patience to sit through an entire game. Still, it's neat to watch for a few minutes.

I don't care about any other teams during summer league (unless there's a high-profile rookie I can check out from another team, but even then only so long), but I liked how they covered the Pacers SL two summers ago.

Not really. I'm definitely strongly considering it, but I haven't yet decided, which is why I'm here. I would like to keep it for its own sake, but it just seems silly to spend $18/mo just for that. I wish it were like it used to be with Satellite and Cable where (if they even had it), you could get it by paying like $5-10 a month for a sports tier that included it. Metronet even has one of those, but for some reason NBATV isn't in it, it's just with the broader tier of channels I'm currently getting (and as it turns out, not watching).

If I could keep it around for $5 or so a month, I would without question. Maybe even 10.

Re: Debating whether or not to keep NBATV

I believe I made the mistake of trying to DVR one of our Orlando series games on NBATV that was also covered by FSI (thought I'd get a different flavor and listen to their people cover the game for something different), and when I got home to re-watch the game (I attended live), it was blacked out. So FSI gets the nod when this happens.

Actually, it's a little strange: Games in Indianapolis are blacked out on NBATV, but if you're outside of Indy (Like me, in FW) the game is only shown on the national station (NBATV, TNT, ESPN, ABC).

But, I assume where you are the FSI feed would win out.

Personally, I'd dump it from the end of the first round until the end of October. That would save you May/June/July/August/Sept, $90. Buy a jersey.

Re: Debating whether or not to keep NBATV

Not really. I'm definitely strongly considering it, but I haven't yet decided, which is why I'm here. I would like to keep it for its own sake, but it just seems silly to spend $18/mo just for that. I wish it were like it used to be with Satellite and Cable where (if they even had it), you could get it by paying like $5-10 a month for a sports tier that included it. Metronet even has one of those, but for some reason NBATV isn't in it, it's just with the broader tier of channels I'm currently getting (and as it turns out, not watching).

If I could keep it around for $5 or so a month, I would without question. Maybe even 10.

In that case, I'd probably scrap it. You'd miss out on some content, but I'm not sure that content is worth $18.00 when it's all said and done. The only way I could justify spending that much myself, personally, is if I was just a diehard avid NBA fan and actively sought out any game I could get my hands on.

Re: Debating whether or not to keep NBATV

Basically it's "Is $18 a month for NBATV alone too much?" Yes.
But "Do I like NBATV and would I prefer to have it?" Yes.

So... yeah.

I think what you're really asking, and I'm surprised no one here has picked up on it, is: "Can PD chip in a few bucks to my NBATV fund???".

I don't have it with my current cable package and can't say I miss it (I've had it before when I had Directv). I will say that I wish I could see the Dream Team show coming on there, though. That stinks.

Re: Debating whether or not to keep NBATV

Not really. I'm definitely strongly considering it, but I haven't yet decided, which is why I'm here. I would like to keep it for its own sake, but it just seems silly to spend $18/mo just for that. I wish it were like it used to be with Satellite and Cable where (if they even had it), you could get it by paying like $5-10 a month for a sports tier that included it. Metronet even has one of those, but for some reason NBATV isn't in it, it's just with the broader tier of channels I'm currently getting (and as it turns out, not watching).

If I could keep it around for $5 or so a month, I would without question. Maybe even 10.

Talk to the cable company. If you have to, bluff and tell them you could get a competitor's package with NBATV for cheaper for what your paying now. Or see if they can set it up as an Ala Carte. Directv did it for me in the past when I actually used to watch the Outdoors Channel.

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